Renovating our hometown house

Shelter. A home away from home. Ronald McDonald House Charities provide just that for families with children being treated at hospitals around the world. When one of our editors stayed at a house during his child's recent surgery, it inspired us to pay it forward by renovating our hometown house. We not only updated the aging facility but also created a calming, consoling refuge that helps make the days and nights a little easier for families coping with a child in a hospital far from home.

Click ahead for a tour, then see slide 19 to find out how you can help your local house.

To make residents comfortable—both physically and emotionally—we updated the kitchen and baths with modern amenities that better serve the multiple families using them each day. We also decorated public rooms with soothing colors and cushy furniture that provide a restful, homelike break from the hospital environment.

Entry room

Great-room

Color The indigo blue in this room (and other Benjamin Moore blues throughout the house) sets a calming, peaceful mood. Blue is a good choice for any room where you want to unwind.

Simplicity By limiting colors to just four hues used in large blocks (on solid-colored furniture pieces, wall paint and the floor via oversized squares created with carpet tiles), we also minimized the visual busyness that can result from too many patterns. A row of cabinets keeps clutter out-of-sight. Both elements create an overall sense of stability, order and organization.

Comfort Old furniture had been donated piece-by-mismatched-piece. We partnered with La-Z-Boy to furnish the room with coordinated, oversized, comfy furniture that encourages families to relax. A large sectional divides the space into two seating areas, offering plenty of room to spread out or snuggle up.

Natural light We left the numerous large windows unadorned to let rejuvenating sunlight stream in and provide a twinkling city skyline view at night.

Small Details A leather ottoman does double duty as a soft, safe coffee table.

Kitchen: Before

Filled with multiple families preparing meals at any given time, the kitchen felt closed in by cabinets over the island and peninsulas. We opened the space and created a fresh look with improved functionality.

Library

Residents come to this cozy escape to curl up with a good book, check e-mail or search the Web.

Texture It's easy to sink into the soft pinwale corduroy and plush faux-suede upholstery on the overstuffed sofa and side chairs. Soft, chunky and fuzzy fibers on the pillow, rug and footstool add warm, homey comfort.

Art Paintings or photos of landscapes and nature help to relax and soothe. They offer a distraction from stressful circumstances—as opposed to abstract art, which can sometimes jar the senses.

Bathroom: After

Fresh look White cabinetry and modern hardware offer a crisp, clean alternative to dated pine cabinets. We traded out the standard molded counter-sink unit for a square vessel on a new granite countertop. A sleek faucet adds style.

Eco-style A new water-conserving toilet will considerably lower the house's water bills.

Kid-friendly Situating the faucet at the side of the sink makes it easier for kids to reach the handle.

Art accents For simple art in both the bathroom and laundry room (next slide), we framed pages from books.

How to support Ronald McDonald House Charities

Many families travel far from home to get the best medical treatment for their seriously ill children. Sometimes, this separates family members. And for children facing a difficult medical crisis, nothing seems scarier than not having Mom and Dad close. Ronald McDonald Houses, including 45 in the Midwest (such as the one in Des Moines, pictured), provide a home away from home where families can stay close to their hospitalized child at little or no cost.

Ronald McDonald House Charities provides stability and vital resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. The Charity could use your help. There are many ways to help families: make a monetary donation; deliver a meal; volunteer at the house; work at a fund-raising event. To find out more about the house in your area and its current needs, visit rmhc.org.

Sponsor highlights: Kohler plumbing & more

Midwest Living® proudly thanks sponsors who donated the newest and most innovative products to update the Ronald McDonald House: Kohler, Jeld-Wen, Merillat, La-Z-Boy and Morton. Their contributions are highlighted on this and the following slides.

Kohler: We love the sleek lines of the new faucet in the bathroom (pictured). But what got us really excited was the new kitchen apron sink that can be installed over existing sink cabinets, meaning homeowners can now get this great look without a total cabinet replacement.

Sponsor highlights: Jeld-Wen windows and doors

Replacing old wood interior doors with white doors made an unexpected but incredible difference throughout the house. Even more special was being able to customize the doors with carved hearts to reflect "The House That Love Built" theme.

Sponsor highlights: Merillat cabinetry

Our remodel offered an opportunity to improve storage throughout the house. We replaced cabinetry in the kitchen and bathrooms and added new cabinetry units in the great-room and library. As a bonus, specialized features inside cabinets facilitate organization.

Sponsor highlights: La-Z-Boy furniture

Furniture in the public rooms had to be comfortable yet durable. Though La-Z-Boy is known for its recliners, we chose the company's newest ultracushy stationary upholstery pieces and case goods to serve the comfort of both parents and children at the house.

Sponsor highlights: Morton water softener

The System Saver water softener and pellets prevent scale build-up in the water heater and pipes; eliminate hard-water spots on dishes, faucets and tile; and help soaps and detergents work better for cleaner dishes and laundry and easier cleaning for the staff.